Read Clinical Practice Documents on Pulmonary Metastasectomy, Management of Malignant Pleural Effusions
Although pulmonary metastasectomy has been performed for decades, there has been a lack of clinically relevant guidance, particularly with regard to timing and indications. As a result, STS convened a multidisciplinary group of general thoracic surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists to create a consensus statement. Written by John R. Handy, MD and colleagues, the “STS Expert Consensus Document on Pulmonary Metastasectomy” is currently available online and will be published in the February issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. Read the statement at sts.org/expertconsensus.
Additionally, STS, the American Thoracic Society, and the Society of Thoracic Radiology have developed a new clinical practice guideline designed to help manage patients with malignant pleural effusions. “Management of Malignant Pleural Effusions: An Official ATS/STS/STR Clinical Practice Guideline” uses evidence-based recommendations from a multidisciplinary panel that included Malcolm M. DeCamp, MD as the STS representative. Read the document at sts.org/endorsed-documents.
Listen to New Podcast Series
The Society has expanded its Surgical Hot Topics podcast series with a new program called “Beyond the Abstract.” Hosted by Thomas K. Varghese Jr., MD, MS, Annals Deputy Editor, Digital Media and Digital Scholarship, the program explores the “whys” behind recent articles in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery and discusses next steps with authors and thought leaders. In the first episode, David M. Shahian, MD and Keith S. Naunheim, MD join Dr. Varghese to discuss the motivation for developing surgeon-level outcomes metrics and why it’s important, as outlined in the October 2018 Annals article, “Individual Surgeon Performance in Adult Cardiac Surgery.” Subscribe to Surgical Hot Topics via your favorite podcast app, or listen at sts.org/podcast.
Scholarships Encourage CT Surgery Careers
The Society’s Looking to the Future (LTTF) Scholarship Program will bring 30 general surgery residents and 30 medical students, each with an interest in exploring a career in cardiothoracic surgery, to the upcoming STS 55th Annual Meeting in San Diego.
More than 150 medical students and residents applied for the 2019 scholarships.
Initiated in 2006, the program was developed to identify and encourage general surgery residents who are considering, but not yet committed to, a career in cardiothoracic surgery. In 2011, medical students became eligible. Since its inception, the Society has awarded 550 scholarships.
During the meeting, educational programs for medical students and residents provide targeted information about cardiothoracic surgery as a profession, life as a cardiothoracic surgeon, and the application processes for training programs. In addition, each scholarship recipient is assigned a surgeon mentor to provide one-on-one insights.
To view a list of the 2019 scholarship recipients, visit sts.org/lttf. For information regarding the LTTF program, contact Rachel Pebworth, Affiliate Manager, Awards and Operations, at rpebworth@sts.org or 312-202-5835.
AQO Online Now Available
If you missed the 2018 Advances in Quality & Outcomes (AQO): A Data Managers Meeting, you can still experience the exceptional meeting content through AQO Online. AQO Online provides unlimited, on-demand viewing of meeting presentations with audio, is compatible with computers and mobile devices, and—new!—offers the ability to earn CE or CEU credit. Purchase access to specific sessions or a complete set, which includes all Database components. Those who attended AQO 2018 receive free access to the online products that correspond to the sessions for which they were registered; log in with the credentials that were used to register for the meeting. Visit sts.org/AQOonline for details.
View Photos from CT Surgery in the Future Course
In an effort to help recruit medical students and general surgery residents into the specialty, the Society offers an annual Cardiothoracic Surgery in the Future Course in conjunction with the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress. The 2018 course, which took place on October 22 in Boston, was a huge success with record-breaking attendance. Check out the course photos featuring approximately 150 eager attendees getting hands-on experience with six different cardiothoracic surgical procedures at sts.org/2018CTfuturephotos.
CT Surgery Residents Prepare for Jeopardy Title
Cardiothoracic surgery residents from Europe and North America will face off at the STS 55th Annual Meeting in the ultimate cognitive challenge—the STS Cardiothoracic Surgery Jeopardy Championship. Qualifying competitions were held at the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Annual Meeting in October 2018 and the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association Annual Meeting in November 2018. The winners, representing the Hospital Santa Cruz in Lisbon and the University of Rochester in New York, respectively, will compete for international bragging rights on Sunday, January 27, at 4:45 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall at the San Diego Convention Center.
STS Engages the General Public via Press Release Program
As part of its continuing effort to raise public awareness about the Society, cardiothoracic surgery, and the role that cardiothoracic surgeons play in the health care arena, STS issued one press release October 12–December 18, 2018. A brief recap can be found below. To read the full press release, visit sts.org/media.
December 18: “Brain Health Not Affected by Major Heart Surgery” described a study in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery showing that patients who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting surgery do not experience major memory changes—either better or worse—when compared with those who have minimally invasive cardiac catheterization.